NEW YORK – Sometimes the so-so performances stand out more than the great ones.

The surging New York Rangers have been running away with the Eastern Conference and now they are picking up points even when they aren’t playing up to the high standard they have set.

“We’re playing our third game in two-and-a-half days, and they’re not all going to be pretty,” Rangers Coach John Tortorella said after the Rangers outlasted the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Sunday.

Derek Stepan and Marian Gaborik both scored tie-breaking goals in the third period, and the Rangers held on after losing in overtime at Tampa Bay on Friday. New York squandered two-goal leads in both games, but escaped with 3 of 4 points.

The Rangers (42-15-7) topped Boston for the fifth straight time, dating to last season, and opened a 12-point lead over the defending champions. New York’s closest pursuer is Atlantic Division-rival Pittsburgh, which is 10 points behind.

Henrik Lundqvist made 30 saves and bounced back from the Lightning loss. Anton Stralman and Carl Hagelin also scored for the Rangers, who have won 9 of 13 (9-2-2). New York has 91 points — the most in the NHL — and has gotten there in fewer games than any team in close contention for the Presidents’ Trophy.

“Maybe our last two games we weren’t perfect, but we still managed to get points,” Lundqvist said. That’s a strength. That’s what it comes down to — just find ways to win games, or at least get points. We didn’t play our best … but we stayed in the game.”

Gaborik gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead 3:14 into the third with his 32nd goal, but David Krejci tied it for Boston at 11:42. The Bruins barely had time to celebrate before Stepan ripped a drive from the left circle that sailed past screened goalie Tim Thomas and under the crossbar 39 seconds later.

The Rangers were held to 17 shots, but got the best of Thomas, who lost for the second straight day. Thomas came on in relief Saturday against the New York Islanders after starter Tuukka Rask was injured. Boston was beaten for the seventh time in 11 games (4-6-1).

Benoit Pouliot and Jordan Caron had the other goals for Boston.

“We played a pretty good game,” Thomas said. “Right now, what can go wrong, will. It’s one of those modes.”